1
as in apostasy
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as in desertion
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Recent Examples of defection
Some of the Democrats who voted no were furious about the defection.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Despite three tumultuous relocations in the past half-century, most recently a defection to Sin City five years ago, the Raiders still have a rabid fan base — at Allegiant, every game day is Halloween — and the natives and transplants (including 62,080 attendees Sunday) are getting restless.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
According to Disney, Connolly’s defection came at a critical time, as the company was beginning its billion-dollar license renewal negotiations with YouTube — with Connolly as lead negotiator.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
In either, a defection of five Republicans would sink the effort.
—Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defection
Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
Despite three tumultuous relocations in the past half-century, most recently a defection to Sin City five years ago, the Raiders still have a rabid fan base — at Allegiant, every game day is Halloween — and the natives and transplants (including 62,080 attendees Sunday) are getting restless.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
According to Disney, Connolly’s defection came at a critical time, as the company was beginning its billion-dollar license renewal negotiations with YouTube — with Connolly as lead negotiator.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
In either, a defection of five Republicans would sink the effort.
—Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defection
Noun
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Those who showed apostasy rarely got another assignment.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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The diehard climate activists have an orthodoxy from which even the slightest deviation is apostasy.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The relative desertion of the streets shows the strategy has paid off.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Jan. 2026
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The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has opened nearly 290,000 criminal cases into soldiers’ absence without leave and desertion up to September, according to the Ukrainska Pravda media outlet.—
Clarissa Ward,
CNN Money,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The right’s schisms were on full display during AmericaFest, Turning Point USA’s annual conference, which took place in Phoenix this past weekend.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
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But in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a painful schism emerged between them, one that led them to stop speaking to one another for an extended period of time.—
Scott Huver,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Nora, a volatile actress struggling with crippling stage fright, is consumed by deep resentment over her father’s abandonment.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
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Its abandonment, with powder canisters spilling across the rock, suggested that its owner left in haste.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The second major structural change involves one of the hallmarks of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1: initial scission at the S1 furin cleavage site.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
6 May 2022
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Wilson cautions more work is needed to explain how exactly spin results after scission.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2021
Noun
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The Woods brand was badly dinged by his November 2009 car crash and infidelity scandal, but sponsors returned for the comeback story, including his 2019 Masters title.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
30 Dec. 2025
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There has been rumored infidelity aimed at both parties in addition to other grievances.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The stance aligns with China’s own sensitivities over sovereignty and separatism.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Finding common ground In the 20th century, Black and white nationalists were able to find common ground on the topic of racial separatism.—
George Michael,
The Conversation,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Kitchen There's a common misconception that Magic Erasers make good stainless steel appliance cleaners.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
13 Jan. 2026
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There are still so many misconceptions about these medications among the general public.—
SELF Staff,
SELF,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defection. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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